Veil of Rivalry

Chapter 4

I couldn't sleep. No matter how many times I turned over, the bed felt lumpier and more uncomfortable with each movement.

The room was quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos in my mind. It was 10 pm, and I was the only one there. Being a new student, I had no roommate to share the room with.

The air was chilly, and I shivered under the thin blanket, unable to shake the feeling of unease that kept me wide awake. In frustration, I grabbed my phone, only to find it low on battery. With an eye roll, I dragged myself out of bed and headed to the nearby table to plug it in.

The soft glow from the screen illuminated my path, but as I neared the table, a shiver ran down my spine. I felt a presence near the window, a silent whisper in the dark. Heart pounding, I quickly ducked behind a piece of furniture, my eyes straining to pierce the darkness.

My breath hitched as the window opened and shut with startling speed, as if whoever was there didn't want to be seen. I waited, muscles tensed, listening to the silence that followed. A few seconds later, I decided to act. Grabbing a heavy object from the table, I held it ready to defend myself.

The room was pitch black, and I could barely see a thing, but I had to try. My goal wasn't just to confront the intruder—I needed to get to the light switch. With a sudden burst of courage, I lunged forward and managed to strike the intruder in the thigh.

A grunt of pain confirmed my hit. Without wasting a moment, I dashed to the wall and flicked the light switch on. The brightness was blinding at first. My eyes squinted against the sudden glare, but then I saw him.

The man who had helped me hide during the accident earlier stood before me, his expression calm despite the situation. He still wore the same dark veil that contrasted sharply with his pale skin.

"What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice trembling as I pointed the unopened katana I had bought earlier that day at him. Instead of answering, he merely glanced at me with bored indifference and casually swayed the katana aside with his bare hand.

"I thought no one was here," he said flatly, turning to leave. He was a step away from the door when I called after him, desperation tinging my voice. "What's your deal?" He paused, the air between us thick with tension.

"If you knew, it wouldn't be secret right?" he replied cryptically. His voice was as cold as the night air. "By the way, keep your windows locked." And with that, he slipped out of the room, leaving me standing there, confused.

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Daily Task: Attend Class (01:05:34)

I was brushing my hair when I checked my digital phone. Yesterday, I received 30,000 digital points for buying a 64,000 digital points worth of katana. The reward was not worth the points I spent. But it didn't matter. I knew this katana would help me in the future. I boredly looked at it before scrolling.

I was looking for today's schedule, and it didn't fail me as I saw it. 6:30 - 7:00 AM Morning Meditation Session (Meditation Hall) Looks like meditation was first on my schedule. Sounds simple. It's not any physical activity that would drain my energy.

This is a piece of cake.

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This is not simple. During the morning meditation session at the institute, participants engage in a guided practice aimed at cultivating inner calm and mental clarity.

Led by a facilitator, sessions often begin with deep breathing exercises to promote relaxation and focus. Participants are encouraged to practice mindfulness, fostering present-moment awareness.